Notes from Underground : Gilded Pocket Edition (Arcturus Ornate Classics)

Notes from the Underground is a dystopian tale of the Underground Man, a retired civil servant living in St Petersburg who retreats from society. This work is considered by many to be the first existentialist novel and influenced many classic works including Metamorphosis and Invisible Man.

The tale draws on Dostoevsky's acute observation of Russian life; his thoughts on philosophy and social mores; and his reactions to the work of Nikolai Gogol. At its heart lies Dostoevsky's rumination on the need to establish one's true identity and how society can distort the perception of who one truly is.

This beautiful pocket-sized gift edition contains the classic translation by Constance Garnett; a facsimile of Dostoevsky's signature on the title page; silver gilded page edges and beautifully designed endpapers. Part of the Arcturus Ornate Classics series this book makes wonderful gift for any lover of classic literature.

ABOUT THE SERIES: Arcturus Ornate Classics are beautiful pocket editions of iconic literary works from across history. Presented with striking foil cover embossing, gilded page edges, and deluxe ivory paper, these editions make the perfect gift for lovers of classic literature.

Author Bio

Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-81) was one of Russia's foremost writers, producing novels, short stories, essays and philosophical texts. Born in Moscow, he initially trained as an engineer, spending his spare time translating books. The publication of his first book, Poor Folk, saw him enter the literary circles of St Petersburg, but he developed a gambling habit as he toured around Europe and then fell foul of the Russian authorities who sent him into exile in Siberia in 1849 for reading banned works. Crime and Punishment was the second novel that Dostoevsky wrote after he returned from exile and its serialisation was considered a huge success, earning Dostoevsky many plaudits.

Constance Garnett (1861-1946) was a celebrated English translator of Russian literature, most notably the works of Anton Chekov and Fyodor Dostoevsky. Her translations received high acclaim from numerous critics and authors, including Joseph Conrad and D. H. Lawrence.